Air quality in Banting improves, in Port Klang it is still dangerous at noon

The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Banting dropped to very unhealthy, at 294, at noon Friday, from the hazardous level of 318 this morning.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, the API readings in Banting was 318 at 6am today, and improved to 316 (7am), followed by 311 (8am), 306 (9am), 304 (10am) and 301 (11am).

However, the API in Port Klang still remained at the dangerous level, although showing a drop, from 350 at 6am to 304 at noon.

Twelve areas recorded unhealthy air quality, from 13 earlier today, and they are Petaling Jaya (182), Batu Muda (177), Putrajaya (167), Port Dickson (165), Shah Alam (160), Nilai (159), Seremban (145), Cheras (143), Kuala Selangor (134), Bukit Rambai (133), Bandaraya Melaka (120) and Muar (109).

The air quality in Tanjung Malim, which registered unhealthy, with API of 110 at 6am, has improved to moderate (94) at noon.

Besides Tanjung Malim, 18 other areas recorded moderate API, while 19 areas registered good air quality.

The Selangor Education Department had ordered all 71 schools in Kuala Langat and 131 schools in Klang to be closed today due to the haze in both districts.

API readings of between 0-50 are considered good, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and dangerous (exceeding 301).

The people can surf the portal, apims.doe.gov.my of the DOE, to find out the API in their areas.